Incubator.



B. C. HAYS. mcUBAToB.. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28,1914

UNITED sTATEs ERNEST Cr HAYS,

1,101,742. Specification of PATENT -oEEioE 0F `WACO, TEXAS.

INcUBA'LroR.

mers Patent. Patented June 3o, 1914.

Application tiled January 28, 1914. Serial No. 814,987.

determined temperature in excess of said minimum temperature automaticallymain tained rand controlled.

l' so A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism -for the stated purpose which may be adjustedfrom the outside of A'the incubator and which will be simple in construction and e'licient in operation.

Other incidental objects ot' the invention will appear as the description of the same proceeds, and the invention consists in certain novel features which will be hereinafter first-fully described and then more particularly pointed out in the claims.

y In the annexed drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of an incubator embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the same; Fig. 3 is a detail perspective viewof the circuit closer; Fig. 4

y is a diagrammatic View showing the arrangement of lights which serve as the heating agent and the circuit closer coacting therewith. A

The incubator comprises a double walledA casing l which is supported in an elevated position on legs 2 and is provided in its bottom with openings 3 to admit lfresh air to'the, interior. The space between t-he inner and outer Walls of the casing is filled with f asbestos, mineral wool,or other heat insulating material and at the front of the casing is provided adouble hinged door 4 which will permit examination of the incubator and contents of thesame and will also rovide access thereto. Upon the bottom o the incubator is placed an egg tray 5 which may be ofthe usual or any preferred construction.

Upon the inner side of the top of the inicubator is provided a number of incnndescent electriclamps 6 which may be of any number according to the s'ize of the appa-` ratus. `In the present -instance,afour lamps 'are shown arranged in two series, each comprising two lamps. Ihe lampsl), are en1 manently connected 1n the ciroult mol mg conductors 7 and 8 leading to and from the' source of electric energy and by a conductor v and to the extremity of this lateral arm 14 is secured a thermostat 15 from which a rod 16 rises through tlietop of the incubator. The thermostatconsists preferably of' superposed receptacles 17 which may be vfilled with ether, mercury, orl other volatile fluid, and the rod 16 may be secured to or rest upon the receptacle. The upper end of the support 13 is bent laterally so as to fit flat against the inner side of the top of the casing and is secured to the saidA top by screws or similar fastenings 18, as will be readily. understood. To the said support, below and near the pper end thereof, is fulcrumed abeam 19 which extends to the opposite sides of the said support and is equipped near one end withan adjustable counter-weight 20 so as to be properly balanced. Upon the opposite end of the beam vis secured a cap or block 21 ot' insulating material'for a purpose which will presently appear. The rod 16 is pivotally connected to the beam between the support 13 and the weight 20, so that, as the thermostat Aexpands or contracts, the rod 1G will be moved upwardly or downwardly and, consequently, the beam will be oscillated about its fulcrum. As before stated, the upper end of the rod .16` extends through the top of the casing and the opening through which it. passes may be lined With any convenientform of bushing, indicated at 22. Upon the outer side of the top of the casing, adjacent the said bushing or opening, is a bracket or bearingl23 upon which is pivotally secured a lever 24 extending across the said bushing 22 and carrying at its free end a cap 25 which is adapted to fit over and close an opening 26 provided in the top of the casing. Adjacent the bracket. or bearing 23, a setscrew 27 is mounted in the lever 2 4 in position. t@ .be @eased by the upper extremity rio of the rod 1G, and it will be readily understood that by adjusting the said set-screw through the lever the period at which the lever will be actuated may be regulated.

i Secured to the inner side of the top of the casing'is a resilient plate 28 which "constitutes the movable member of the circuit closer 12 and is so tempered that it tends to that it may be readily adjuste without danger tothe' operator. This screw 29 passes through and intimately engages a late 32 which'is secured to the inner side o the top of the cas' and the conductor 10 is secured directly to t said plate, it being understood that the conductor 11 is secured to the end of the plate 28. v

It is thought the operation of the apparatus will be readily understood. As lon as the temperature of the incubator is be ow or at the desired temperature the member 28 of the circuit closer will be in contact with the screw 29 and, 'consequentl the circuit will be closed so, that all the amps will be Iburning. The cap 25 will also rest upon the top ofthe casing so that the opening 26 through the same will be closed. Should the temperature of the incubator rise to a point above the redetermined maximum, the expension o the thermostat due to the high 'temperature will lift the rod 16 and the beam 19 will follow the movement of the said rod through its' pivotal connection therewith'so that the cap or block 2'1 will be lowered and, consequently, the member 28' willv spring away from the screw 29 and thereby break the circuit. The lamps 6", 6 will, consequently, be extinguished and the supply .of heat thereby diminished. The continued upward movement of-the 4rod 16 will cause its up r extremity to engage the said screw 27 an thereby lift the lever 24 so that the cap 25 will be raised from the opening 26 and the excess of heated vair may then-oscape through the said o ening, fresh air` being adr'nitted'through t e openings 3 in the bottom',l of the incubator so that a thorough ventilation 'of the apparatus willfbe automatically effected. v a

It will bef're'idily noted that the screws 27 and 31 are both adjusted from the outside of the ap aratus so that it is not necessary to open t e incubator and thereby expose the eggs to an excess of cold air in rder to ad;

.a casing, of a just the mechanism. It will also be noted that these screws may be so adjusted that the lights 6, 6 will be extinguished before the opening 26 is uncovered and a very thorough ventilation of the apparatus without u due cooling of the eggs may phshed. As the temperature within the incubator lowers, the thermostat, of course,

4will be cooled and will contract so that the beam 19 and the lever 24. will return to their uinitial normal positions and the esca e of air from the-incubator will be arreste the lamps 6*, 6l againlighted.

The parts of the apparatus are very simple in their construction andare compact in and be accoml their arrangement so that they occupy the least possible space within the incubator so that it may be applied to incubators of any type without requiring. excessive changes therein and without 'entailinga burdensome expense. The conductors for lthehun symay be placed upon either the inside or. t e outside of the casing top and when the invention is ap lied to new incubators they ma be embeddped within the to so that the wi l be out of the way and wi not be lia le to accidental breakage. By adjusting the setscrew 27 so that it will bear constantly upon the upper end of the thermostat rod 16, the lever 24 may be set so that a slight space may be left between the cap 25 and the top of the casing and, consequently, ventilation of the apparatus may be provided without dimin ishing the supply of heat and this adjustment will be found very advantageous in exceedingly cold weather.

What I claim is 1. In an incubator, the combination with plurality of electric heaters Within the casing to heat the same, a circuit closer in circuit with some of the heaters and comprising a fixed member secured within the casing and amovable member co-actingr therewith, a bracket secured within the casing, a vbeam fulcrumed upon said bracket and bearing atone end against the movable member of the circuit closer, and a tliermostatic controlling device mounted on said bracket and pivotally attached to said beam.

2.4 laan incubator, the combination with a casing, of a plurality of electric heaters therein, a circuit closer within the casing in circuit with some of the heaters and Acom prising a contact point adjustably mounted in the casing and extending therethrough and a resilient late secured within the casing and normal y in contact with said point, a support within the incubator, a .beam fulcrumed upon said support and having one end bearing againstthe resilient plate, and a vthermostatic controlling device mounted upon said support and pivotally attached to said beam.

. 3. In an incubator, the combination of a "29 within the casing, e plurality of 'within the casing,

pivotally mounted upon the casing, a cap carried by the free end of said lever and adapted to close said air outlet, a. support u plurality of electric heaters within 0the casmg, a circuit closer in circuit with some of said heaters and com- Erising u fixed memberand u resilient memer secured within the casing and normally in contact with said fixed member, a beam fulcrumed upon said support and bearing against the said resilient member, and a thermostatic controlling device having u. rod pivoted to said4 beam and extendin t rough the incubator to aetuate the said ever. 4. In an incubator, the combination of a casing having an air outlet therein, u lever pivotally mounted upon the casing, a. cap carried by the free end of Said lever and adapted' to close said air outlet, a support electric heaters within the casing, a circuit Vcloser in circuitwith some of said heaters auch .comprising a fixed member and u reslhent member secured within'the casing und normally in lcontact with said 'iixed member, a beam fulcrumed upon the said support, a. thermostatic controlling device havin" a rod pivoted to said beam and extcndin through the incubator to actuate the sai lever, a cap'upon one end of the beam bearing upwardly against the movable member of the circuit` closer, and a counter-balance weight upon the opposite end ofthe beam.

In testimon whereof I affix myl signature in presence o two witnesses.

ERNEST c. uns.. [1.. Q Witnesses INeA Jozmsou, M. I. FICHTENBAUM. 

